The Carolina Panthers close out their preseason tonight in Charlotte, and the spotlight shifts almost entirely to the players trying to survive the roster cut. Kickoff against the Houston Texans is set for 7:30 pm ET, but the big names won’t be out there after the starters went through a hard - and rough - joint practice.
That leaves this finale with a different kind of edge. It’s the last chance for a long list of players to make a case before the Panthers have to get down to 53. Once the initial “starters” such as Kenny Pickett and Princely Umanmielen exit, the game becomes an audition stage for everyone still hanging around the bubble.
Among the names worth tracking are potential cuts Jimmy Horn Jr., Cam Gill, Elijah Garcia, John Metchie III, Ja'seem Reed, and others. AJ Dillon is in that mix as well, trying to show Carolina he belongs as a fourth RB.
The tight end group also deserves a close look, especially Ja'Tavion Sanders. His role tonight could say plenty about where he stands with the team, both in terms of how he’s used and how he performs. The question of whether he still has a path onto the roster - or is truly trade bait at this point - makes his snaps one of the more interesting things to follow.
If you’re planning to watch from home, the game will be available locally across the region. In Augusta, Savannah, Charlotte, Wilmington, and the Outer Banks, it will air on ABC.
In Charleston, Roanoke, and Columbia, it will be on CBS. NBC will carry it in Greenville, Greensboro, and Raleigh, while FOX will have it for viewers in Richmond, Durham, Spartanburg, and Myrtle Beach.
There are streaming options, too. The Panthers website and Panthers app will have a live stream for local viewers at no cost. Out-of-market fans can find it on NFL Game Pass, which includes a seven-day free trial for new subscribers, and NFL+ will also carry it on mobile devices.
For anyone who prefers the radio call, 99.7 will have the local broadcast.
In Other News...
Panthers Fans Face A Stadium Delay Before Tonights Home Preseason Finale
A rough weather night arrived before the Carolina Panthers preseason finale, as severe thunderstorms and heavy rain in Mecklenburg County forced Bank of America Stadium to delay its gate opening for the game against the Houston Texans. The storms were carrying dangerous lightning and possible damaging winds, and officials warned fans to stay put until conditions improved rather than rush toward the stadium.
The delay put a different kind of tension on a night already meant to serve as the Panthers last tune-up before the real games begin. With the storm expected to linger until around 6:30 p.m., the priority shifted from football to safety, and fans were urged to seek cover and keep clear of any downed power lines while waiting for word on when they could head inside. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face Tough Calls After Several Bubble Players Forced The Issue
With the roster cutdown deadline looming, Carolina is staring at the kind of decisions that always seem to define the last week of camp. The Panthers have to trim from 90 players to 53, and a sizable group of bubble names has spent the summer making the picture harder to read, not easier. That includes quarterback Haynes King, running back AJ Dillon, wide receivers David Moore, Jaseem Reed and John Metchie III, plus tight ends Darren Waller and JaTavion Sanders.
The list does not stop there, either, with offensive lineman Albert Reese, defensive lineman Aaron Hall, outside linebacker Cam Gill and safety Isaiah Simmons all pushing for a place in the mix. Several of them have flashed enough in recent weeks to keep the conversation alive, but the final stretch is where opportunity and timing tend to collide. For Carolina, the real question is how many of these players can force their way onto the 53-man roster, and which ones might have to hope the practice squad gives them a second chance. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face One Roster Battle That Could Force Outside Help
The roster trim-down deadline is looming, and Carolina still has a few spots that feel anything but settled. By 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, the Panthers have to get down to 53 players, and the decisions coming out of that process could shape more than just the back end of the depth chart. ESPNs Mike Kaye pointed to three areas that look especially vulnerable after the cut: off-ball linebacker, guard and the defensive line, with the edge rotation standing out as a particular concern.
Linebacker is the spot worth watching most closely because the Panthers are still sorting out the competition next to Devin Lloyd, with Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus in the mix. If that battle leaves the staff wanting more certainty, there are still recognizable veteran options sitting in free agency, including Bobby Wagner and Shaq Thompson. With depth also thin at guard and along the line, Carolina may not be done looking outside the building even after the roster gets finalized. [Read more 🡒]